GailWing

WING, Gail Surrounded by all of those who loved her, Gail Van Duzen Hairston Wing, 82, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, April 5. Gail was the baby of three daughters born to Dr. Rex Edward and Barbara Shaw Van Duzen in Dallas on July 4, 1935. As a young girl in Old Preston Hollow, Gail's imaginative spirit was formed riding the family's horses around the neighborhood, exploring their peach orchard and Victory Garden, and playing with her dogs. As a teenager, Gail spent summers with friends in Mexico City, Mexico, where she became fluent in Spanish. She attended Ursuline Academy and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1953 before going on to study at Loretto Heights College in Denver and SMU, where she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. In 1957, Gail married James L. Hairstona union which led to her most cherished work as mother to her seven children. In 1997, Gail married the love of her life, Samuel A. Wing. Together, Gail and Sam relished traveling the world but were always thrilled to return home to Dallas, where they would spend time with their large, blended family. Sam and Gail were active at St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Malta and the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Gail was talented, insatiably curious, utterly stylish, an adventurous traveler, artistic, gracious and funny, and many moments during her life inspired all those who knew her to lead fabulous and full lives. After dedicating countless years to raising her children, Gail returned to SMU to finish her degree teaching us to never give up on our dreams. In her spare time, Gail would put the intricacies of life to canvas through her many paintingsteaching us to notice beauty, which was her life's passion. And at Christmas, Gail was known to gift her grandchildren $20 each to pass on to someone in needteaching us selflessness and compassion. Gail is preceded in death by her sister Barbara Freeman and her daughter Angela. Her vivacious spirit is kept alive through her husband, Samuel A. Wing; sister, Yvonne Davis; children, Beverly Hairston Lueckemeyer (Chuck), Barbara Hairston Roberson (Bill), Jim Hairston, Mary Hairston Lueckemeyer, David Hairston (Irma Eristavi-Hairston) and Nancy Hairston (Tish Jimenez); and her beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. As the daughter of a doctor, Gail felt passionately about becoming a member of the Willed Body Program at UT Southwestern. The family would like to thank her longtime friend and doctor, Merrick H. Reese; her caregivers, Marisol Cruz, Sandra Padilla, Pearline King and Maria de la Cruz; and the staff at Faith Presbyterian Hospice for showing Gail love and compassion during her final days. Some of Gail's most precious moments were spent patiently teaching and encouraging artistic efforts in her grandchildren, so in lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Advisory Board supporting students' pursuit of the arts in their higher education. BTW ADVISORY BOARD PO Box 192648 Dallas, Texas 75219 Memo Gail Van Duzen Wing A service to celebrate Gail's beautiful life will be held at Christ the King Church on Wednesday, April 18 at 2 p.m.

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